AG submits explanation for his remarks on Mullaperiyar

Sunday, December 04, 2011: Advocate General K.P. Dandapani today submitted an explanation before Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for his statement before the Kerala High Court that there is no relation between water level in Mullaperiyar and the safety of the dam.
Dandapani was accompanied by additional advocate generals, who met CM at Kottayam on Sunday. AG’s statement has snowballed into a major controversy and has put the government in a fix.
The Advocate General clarified the statement after being pulled by the Chief Minister who along with the Revenue Minister K.M. Mani disowned the stand taken by him, but the damage was already done. Mani opined that the stand taken by the Advocate General had relation to the facts.
The Advocate General while pleading the case had informed the court that even if the Mullaperiyar dam met with a disaster the water can be contained by Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams. His contention was that dam safety is not related to water level and it was the age of the dam and the quakes in the region that is threatening the structure.
Kerala government had been running virtually from pillar to post to have the Tamil Nadu government agree for a reduction in water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam because of safety concerns. This was the major argument that the state was placing before the Centre, the court and the Tamil Nadu government for ensuring safety of people and property down stream.